Perth-based SSE - the UK's second-largest energy supplier - has revealed its latest gender pay gap figures which show a 22 per cent difference between the mean earnings of its male and female employees.

The figure is an improvement from last year's mean differential of 22.4 per cent, when SSE became one of the first FTSE 100 companies to published gender pay data based on the draft regulations available at that time. However, the overall figure masks big differences across the group's nine separate business entities.

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In its gender pay report published on its website, the group states: "While SSE's overall proportion of female employees is around 30 per cent, just 3 per cent of the top 10 operational roles in the company are filled by women.

"Within SSE's different business areas, those with an operational focus have a significantly higher gender pay gap than the pay gap for the overall company. For example, within SSE Generation Ltd the median gender pay gap is 35.3 per cent and within Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Plc it's 39.3 per cent."

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This year's report additionally includes actions taken by the group to "target the root problem around gender norms". These include its continuing partnership with educational charity Teach First, plus participation in a number of other organisations aiming to encourage greater female participation in STEM subjects.

The group adds: "SSE has invested in key sponsorships of women in sport events to help break down perceived barriers.

"The seven-figure title sponsorship deal for the SSE Women's FA Cup is the flagship of these activities but other sponsorships include the Women's Scottish Cup, a Women's Golf Invitational and 'next generation' Sports Aid athletes."